Hotaru-chan

Missed my chance at reuniting with Okita-sama. T_T

Ano, have you seen my Okita-sama? I've been looking for him for so many years now.

Hai, Okita Soujirou, the captain of the Shinsengumi's first unit.

As a young woman in those days, I really admired and fan-girled over Okita-sama. We weren't together very much, but I can still remember his gentle voice and kind face, and how he remained patient towards me even if I was sobbing endlessly. Yes, it might sound shameful, but back then, I was a girl who cried over the slightest of things.

After the bakumatsu, I left Kyoto and was adopted by a very kind and childless couple from Choshuu. They let me study and treated me like their own, and for that, I am very thankful. I am now 26 years old, and I assist my parents in running a small Western restaurant in Kobe.

I never forgot about Okita-sama though.  Even when news of the Shinsegumi's disbanding reached me, I tried, as much as I can to get information about his whereabouts. I kept believing, hoping, praying, that someday, somewhere, somehow, I'll see him again. There have been times when I was told that he is already...already...no, I can never say that word...

Just a few months ago, I received news, if not rumours of a certain Okita Soujirou that is residing in Tokyo. Not wasting any time, I decided to pay Tokyo a visit, and that is why I am here.

I hope to find Okita-sama very soon although I'm not really sure if he can still remember me.





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Hotaru was originally a spy of the Choshuu and was tasked to infiltrate the Shinsengumi headquarters posing as an assistant cook to Yamazaki Ayumu--something she really did not like and actually asked to be relieved. Hotaru, in her younger years, is very shy, easily moved, and quite clumsy which usually gets her into trouble with her older shinobi counterparts. Aside from Okita, Hotaru also met Saitou Hajime (in good terms).